In every piece of law I have worked as a political adviser, regulator, campaigner or lobbyist you ask yourself how to get from where you are to where you want to be in a given time period.
For example, in air pollution, what amounts to air quality that is ultra safe, means the total industrialisation of Europe overnight, no carbon based transport and carbon based transport. Ah, and even then you are no where near where you need to be anytime soon.
In 1997, that was seen as too radical. As my politician had no idea on how to get to those levels, without rather large changes, less ambitious, but safe and deliverable levels were aimed for. Many were met.
And, there was the realisation in the back of the mind that the major changes needed would kill a lot more people than would ever hypothetically be saved. Fortunately, Europe backs, as a general rule, risk regulation, and not hazard based regulation.
So, a responsible politician or regulator works out what is technically feasible, what is likely to happen, and set rules in place to help that happen.
No responsible politician or regulator sets standards that are, in reality, better than natural levels of air pollution, or impossible to achieve today or anytime soon.
Even the most progressive politicians I have worked for see that as ga ga , and ushers the tin foil brigade out the room. I was lucky Learning that lesson in 1997. So, I will always walk in with a feasible and costed plan that can deliver. It tends to be copied by politicians and regulators.
I find if people don’t walk in with plans, which are clear and written down, are politely ushered out after a short period of time.
It’s what good politicians and regulators want and if it’s what they want, give it to them.